by Barbara Akowuah

Created on: July 07, 2008

The use of antidepressants has always been a controversial subject matter for mental health professionals and researches in the psychiatric field.

Antidepressants are forms of medication that are intended to help those who are in dire need of mental health treatment.

For patients taking antidepressants, like with any other drug, the benefits have to be considered when weighing in the pros versus the cons.

Some feel the benefits outweigh the risk and medication is absolutely necessary while others feel medication only provides an immediate solution in dealing with the symptoms but not in completely alleviating the problem.

Although research studies have proven the effectiveness of antidepressants in treating mental illnesses, some experts argue that the side effects can exacerbate the initial problem.

Those who are more vulnerable to the bad reactions from the side effects are young infants and expectant mothers. This is why it is a great health risk for an unborn child and expectant mother to take antidepressants during pregnancy.

During the first three semesters of pregnancy a fetus is in developing stages, and any type of chemicals can be harmful to the growth and development of that fetus.

Many antidepressants have been known to create potential health risks due to the reactors within these medications that serve to change the physiological functions and chemical imbalances in the brain.

Moreover, medications in which blood levels have to be monitored such as with lithium can prove to be detrimental to the unborn child over an extended period of time because of the poisoning factor to an underdeveloped liver and immune system.

Antidepressants aren't always the solution. There are also alternatives for those who are expecting and have been taken antidepressants prior to becoming pregnant.

Cognitive therapy as well as exercise have often been viewed as effective alternative treatments to medication.

There are examples of women who have successfully quit their medications while pregnant without any significant complications.

The key is too gradually reduce the intake levels as the pregnancy gets further along and it is also advisable to encourage those who are dealing with severe mental illness to not get pregnant because of the risks to both mom and child.

For those dealing with mild to moderate mental illness use of medication during pregnancy is ill advised due to the potentially harmful effects to the unborn child.

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